Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with a decent head (though modest for a Belgian style); the lacing is rather good, however

Smell: Fusel alcohol is a bit too prominent for me, although I often find that to be the case in this style; there is also some fruit (melon and pear) and spice (cinnamon and allspice) that is underneath

Taste: Up front, this is the best example of a graham cracker flavor that I have encountered; the cinnamon flavor builds and turns peppery by, mid-palate, when the fusel alcohol also impacts the flavor profile; the fruit, along with some orange and honey also appears at this stage; after the swallow, the fusel flavors detract from the rest, and there is an excess bitterness that doesn't hit the BSPA style;

Mouthfeel: Medium body with prickly carbonation; warmth on the finish; not as creamy as I would like in a Belgian style

Drinkability: Just a few too many flaws to hit the nail on the head, but few American brewers do Belgians well, and the BSPA is a style that is really tricky

Lemony gold with a light snow shower of yeast and variously sized bubbles blip-blip-blipping their way up to a pearl colored cap that looks more American than Belgian. It's an attrative lid, though, and is beginning to deposit an unbroken blanket of finely pocked lace.

Golden Ale's nose is strangely unaromatic. With such a worldly array of hops (Czech Saaz, Slovenian Goldings, Pacific NW Liberty and Brewer's Gold), not to mention Curacao orange peel, this sucker should be bursting out of the glass. A true Belgian yeast strain might have helped, but I'm betting that a simple ale yeast was used. Other than untoasted malt, a sketchy hoppiness and stainless steel, there isn't much going on. Warming helps and subtracts the metal.

Deschutes wants us to know that 19th Anniversary is their first attempt at a Belgian-style ale. I could have guessed because it isn't exactly a rousing success. The beer tastes a lot like a higher class malt liquor due to the simplicity and the prominence of the alcohol. On second thought, a higher class Euro strong lager is closer to the mark thanks to the grassy hops. Saaz dominate.

Considerably bitter, lemongrassy hops share the spotlight with a warm white pepperiness. The orange peel is a mere afterthought. The beer could have used more 'French pilsner malt' and/or more 'Belgian white candy diamonds' (candi sugar, presumably) to give it balance. A little more cohesion would be nice as well... which makes me think that more rest will do this one some good.

The mouthfeel is better than acceptable. It's medium in a general sense, thanks to an abundance of bubbles that provide quite a bit of lift. Although it falls short of the creamy voluminousness that all good Belgian beer has, I'm fine with the way it was designed.

This offering is exhibit 'A' in why Belgian-style beer is more difficult to brew than it looks. The fact that there are only a handful of American craft brewers up to the task is further proof. In the end, Deschutes 19th Anniversary Belgian Style Golden Ale is an acceptable, if somewhat unrefined, attempt at a BSPA that no one should mistake for the real thing.

I had the pleasure of this wonderful beer crossing my path recently. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one welcomed the afternoon in yesterday, consumed on 01/01/2009.

The pour was very nice, a light golden amber with a nice clarity to it. Small white head, maybe a half inch gave way quicky to a bare top that was dotted with bubbles of carbonation. Lots of carbonation here on this one as chains of bubbles relentlessly reached the surface.

The aroma was mixed with light grain, some nice touches of light fruit, pears and apricots come to mind. Some light fresh grass like hop notes boucning around in there as well. Very complex I have to say. The taste was superb, honestly one of the best blond ales I have had, and I am not really that big of a fan of the style. Light grains, apples and pears all very prevelant, along with a nice touch of bready like flavor in the mid palate. Prickly carbonation was bouncing around here the entire time. Really giving it a light and bouncy nature. Very sessionable as no hint of alcohol on this one at all.

Overall a very solid beer here, nothing at all would keep me from drinking more then one of these in a day, really very good, simply a solid beer.

Appearance: Poured from a 22 oz bomber, this beer appears perfectly clear and golden. The head is modest at best, quite unlike most Belgian style ales, but this doesn't seem to be bottle conditioned either. An unusual choice for the style of beer.

Taste: Mild grainy sweetness, citrus, grass, a bit herbal/medicinal. It finishes quite dry, with an herbal hop bite and the distinct taste of alcohol. The aftertaste is fairly clean, with a slight hoppy bitterness sticking to the back of the tongue.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and surprisingly thin for 8.7% ABV. The carbonation is moderate, less than I was expecting for the style.

Drinkability: Disappointing, especially after the awesome 18th Anniversary Pilsner. I really wish they had just brewed that again, because it's obvious that Belgian styles aren't their specialty.

Nice white head off of a firm pour, the head drops down to a thin ring of lace and tosses a patch here and there on the glass. The clarity is bright and golden with a few bubbles racing to the top. Wildflower, herbal and grassy hop aroma and a cake-like malt character with a following of alcohol that brings a hint of tropical fruit to the nose. Thick medium body that holds hard onto the crispness as it rolls around in the mouth. Enough malt backbone to keep this beer together for the duration. Heavy bite from the hop bitterness and alcohol mix. Big spicy herbal hop flavor jockeys for the top layer. Hints of ripe pineapple and papaya come through as does remnants of yeast and some herbal phenols. Finishes big with a bittersweet finale.

Very well done, a great Belgian-style ale with a splash of American boldness thrown in for extra measure. Meaning, it has a bit more body for the style but is able to pull it off. I raise my glass to Deschutes Brewery for their 19th and this beer is certainly worthy for that occasion.

Pours an effervescent honey color with 1 pinky of white head. Effervescence persists throughout. Average head retention & almost no lacing

S: Perfumy hops & a little grassyness

T: Apricots, lemony hops & little breadyness & honey up front. As this warms I get grapefruit & some boozey warmth & a firm malt background. Finishes warming with loads of lemony hops & some alcohol bite, like this as much as duvel taste-wise

mF: Low carbonation medium-heavy body & fairly slick

Drinks easy for the abv, not funky enough for Belgian-freaks, but I enjoyed it. It would advisable to stash a few bottles for aging & cooler weather

Taste- A bit too sweet if you ask me. The malt base is nice, and the hops are present, but the sugar is a bit overpowering in this release. Not really bad, but hurts the overall product. A bit spicy in the finish and a warming alcohol note as well.

Mouthfeel- Medium carbonation, sugary mouthcoating.

Drinkability- A bit too sweet for me. It's still pretty tasty though. I wonder how a year of aging would do this? Overall a really nice attempt at a quality beer for this style. Almost had a great one.

I guess this is Deschutes first brew of a Belgian ale. They did a good job.
Pours a hazed up, golden body. Carbonation rises to form a slight, yet dense looking white head. Most of the aroma is concentrated in the yeast patterns. Some herbal spice and unripe citrus linger in the background.
Malty for a Belgian ale, imo. Although this is not bad. A good balance between the zing of the yeast. Sweetens it up a bit and gives it some body and depth. Slight honeydew melon and pear detections.
Not sure how this feels. Smooth? Light? Chewy? A bit odd (or maybe I'm a bit odd).
Very nice drinking. I'll pick this one up again.

Palate is tropical fruits and spicy hops.. American pale malts and Belgian esters are the finish. Medium/large body with a big bubble carbonation. Weird lingering estery flavors... quite a bit too sweet, but still pretty tasty... I can't get past the finish... like a wit that is that is too big for it's britches.

I loved this beer when it first came out, and then pretty much hated it for a while now. This is Deschutes' first bottled Belgian style; I gave it the benefit of the doubt... Tonight, I am glad I still have more in the cellar... but what it really makes me think is, 19th Anniversary is the training wheel release for the 20th and the Dissident. I can't wait for both. Deschutes has the PNW mastered... now the rest of the world is ripe for conquest.

Poured from a 22oz bomber into my St Feuillien goblet, the 19th Anniversary Belgian Style Golden Ale is definitely gold, almost into orange/bronze territory, clear and bubbly, with a thin eggshell head that quickly subsides.

The nose is very sweet, lots of candi sugar bubblegum, with phenols and too much fusel alcohol.

The taste is not as sweet as the nose, with pleasant fruity notes and a nice spiciness. However, there are lots of phenols and it's very boozy.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side for a BSPA (although it's really not very pale!) but there's a nice effervescence to temper it.

This was not the most drinkable example of the style, an average American version. It was not light enough and too boozy, even though it's only 8.7%. In that regard, it reminds me of hop henge, another from the Bond Street Series where there fermentation temps seem to have ran away from them. All and all, it was interesting to try, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get a hold of hit. I's also not interesting enough for me to bother grabbing another to through in the cellar.

Im always game for a bomber from Deschutes so I bought a couple bottles of this. This ale appears clear and golden in color; can you imagine that? There is almost no head save for a smattering of white bubbles in the middle of the Chimay chalice. The carbonation is rising steadily from the etching in the bottom. The smells I pick up are faint esters of cloves and thyme (weird). It tastes yeasty and fruity, maybe some apple. Mouthfeel is slightly bubbly to me. This is a good one and really seemed to open up as it warmed, I need to learn to let the bottle sit for awhile outside the fridge before I crack it. I think I will save the other bottle for a while. The alcohol is only barely noticeable. I really like the fact that Deschutes seasonal/big beers are not expensive (with the exception of Abyss which was going for $9 here in Colorado). This beer only cost $3.50 which was a very good price.

Golden coloured ale with a large slightly off white head. Mild alcohol aroma ,pneholic slightly,a wiff of plastic. Very sweet, sugary sweet indeed, taste, raw alcohol noticable near the end, nothing much too it really. Starts of Ok but 4 ozs into the beer, it gets a bit sickeningly sweet and sticky/cloying on the palate. Sad to say i didnt like this beer. Its very reminicent of Full Sails "Vesuvius" in that it is a really poor attempt at a Belgian style ale. Maybe Oregons big brewers cant stretch that far yet

Poured a golden yellow with a nice white head - carbonation looks good, although the head dies a bit quick.

Candied apples along with the Belgium yeast bubble up in the aroma, and the quaff adds a tangy twist of soured fruit. A small presence of hot alcohol distracts from the overall goodness of this beer, but let 'er age for a year and this may move into the "A" category.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Another from the 'Bond Street' series, introduced by Deschutes in recent years...

A: Almost perfectly clear and golden, with a faint orange-ish haze. The slightest and smallest floating sediment hovers, scattered by some steady streams of carbonation. A foamy cap of whiteness, about a finger-worth initially but fading quickly to a thin filming covering barely half the glass.

T: Zesty with spice and a fading souring. This one is full of spicy, piney hops (at 60 IBU's it's much more bitter than a typical Belgian of the style). I read 'cough syrup' in another review and I do concur. Grainy through & through, with a medicinally bitter, dry finish.

M: Gummy, syrupy-thick mouthfeel, very little of the carbonation comes through. Medium body and sticky with more than a hint of fusel burn.

D: As much as it pains me, I probably wouldn't get this again and wouldn't recommend it either. Well, maybe I'll give it one more try... After all the recent successes by this brewery, this one didn't impress me all that much. Still, congrats to Deschutes...Happy 19th!

The Deschutes Bond Street Beers are now being carried at a local liquor store... and that of course, is a good thing.

Beer pours a clear gold color with a nice fluffy white head.

Aroma is peppery and with a touch of bananas.

Flavor is quite peppery. Strong crisp biting pepper flavor on the first sip. Beer then settles into a slightly creamy malt flavor, and a bitter and floral hop finish. This beer is has a nice pop and zing to it, but could probably use a bit of rest.

Mouthfeel is nice and full, thick, smooth, and supple.

A nice "version" of the Belgian Strong Pale Ale Style. This is unique, and worth a try. It's a bit potent right now, and might be even nicer a few months down the road. But I certainly enjoyed it right now.

Pours out to a thick appearing hazy burnt golden, forming a rocky and soapy white head with excellent retention and good lacing. Mild to moderate carbonation level. The aroma is academically interesting, but not very rewarding...it's not very phenolic, but has a distinct Euro-malt base, some mild fruity esters of tropical fruit, alcohol, and vanilla. I have not smelled this yeast strain before...it's very mild for a Belgian-style yeast. Smells more French than Belgian. If anything it reminds me of Ommegang, where they have to ferment it really warm to bring out the necessary phenols, and in the process make a bunch of fusels. This would be like a colder fermentation of the Ommegang yeast. Mouthfeel is thick and soft with a medium-dense body. As it warms, it gets a bit gummy. The taste begins with herbal and woodsy hops (quite odd for the style), some off character esters, a husky pale malt body, a firm herbal bitterness, and ends in isopropyl with a touch of fusels. The finish is biting with alcohol and tastes quite boozy. The aftertaste is not very good...herbal bitterness lingers much longer than it should for the style. Bitterness is marked for the style.

Boy, Deschutes really missed the mark on this one. I can see why it's the first Belgian-style they've bottled, but really they should go back to the drawing board for this one. Very bland, lacking all the characteristics I expect in a triple, with plenty of off-flavors to boot.

22 ounce bomber purchased from Liquid Solutions for about five dollars

Poured into my Dogfish Head snifter with a golden yellow color that had a slightly orange tint

Head was soapy and close to an inch in heighth, had nice retention and left lacing after a whole hour

Smell was full of apples, particularly granny smith or sour types, lots of honey, Belgian yeast which gave it a grainy bread aroma

Taste was nicely balanced and was both sweet and hoppy, could definitely taste some tarty fruit followed by some bready hops, nice amount of malt to balance out the dryness, candy-like taste in the finish that lasted for about a minute after each sip

Could not have drank much more than this and it took me an hour and twenty minutes to finish the bottle, pretty high alcohol content coming in at around nine percent, not too heavy but the sweetness makes it go down a little less easier than it should

Another great beer from Deschutes, wish this bottle was readily available somewhere near me like Hop Trip was, but you cannot have them all

Recommended and should probably drink shortly after getting it because it will continue to get sweeter as the hops mellow out, great price for beer of this stature

Picked up a bomber of this at The Trading Post in Bonners Ferry, Idaho during a quick beer run from Creston this summer.

Pours out a hazy marmalade hue, leaning more towards apricot in tone. Tall frothy white head that has impressive retention, and settles to a finger width creamy cap, with lots of lacing in its wake.

There are Belgian yeast notes on the nose for sure, mildly spicy, some tangerine as well.

The malt is mild within the flavour, everything really starts to happen in the middle where the spicy yeast picks up and makes its way to rendevous with the mildy astringent, dandelion-like hops on the finish, resulting in a very savoury climax.

Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, with a creamy texture to it, it suits the flavour profile and carries it well.

A very savoury ale, which makes it more of the sipping kind, it definitely leaves its mark, the aftertaste lingers on into forever. Not a bad start for the first beer I can recall sampling from this brewery.